Playground swing support



1951 -E. D. BOISSELIER PLAYGROUND swmc SUPPORT Filed March 10, 1950 INVENTO R. zsseZzer arzfl Z0 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 v 2,563,097 PLAYGROUND SWING SUPPORT Earl D. Boisselier, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,934

10 Claims.

My invention relates to childrens swings for playground use and the like and has especially to do with an improved support for such a swing. I' have designed a swing having a new and improved support which is especially simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be made from a few parts formed of standard material, such asstandard pipe, rod and the like, and with a tool and die expense which is practically negligible. At the same time, said supporting means is entirely adequate in strength and ruggedness to meet the severe requirements of this class of articles.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the attached drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a swing supporting device constituting a preferred example of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a complete swing embodying my invention.

Referring first to Fig. 5, shown here is a swing indicated generally by the numeral In which is carried by a trestle of any suitable design, said trestle having an elevated horizontal supporting member indicated generally by the numeral I5. The supporting member l5 may be formed of any suitable material, but I have found it most convenient to use a suitable length of standard tubing of the required gauge to take the required load and strains, as, for example, a standard two inch steel or galvanized iron tube. The member l5 may be supported by any convenient means, as, for example, a pair of triangular struts or bipods H, H.

Carried by the horizontal beam I5 is a swing supporting frame, indicated generally by the numeral 20. As seen best in Fig. 1, this frame in my preferred embodiment is formed of a pair of L-shaped rods, said rods being bent at substantially right angles providing relatively short legs 22, 22' and relatively long legs 23, 23'. These L shaped rods are arranged to form a rectangle with the short legs 22, 22' of each rod crossing the long legs 23, 23' of the other rod, each long leg being recessed as at 24 to receive the short leg. The rods are secured together at the points where they cross by any suitable means, as, for

example, by wire cotter pins 25, and one of the rods being bored at each of the crossing points topermit passage of said securing elements.

The horizontal support I5 is provided with a pair of perforations to permit passage of the long legs 23, 23'. The perforations just referred to are necessarily disposed at a slight angle to each other and diverge oppositely from a horizontal plane through the center of bar l5, corresponding to the angle between the respective legs 23, 23'

which is required to permit overlap of the legs at,

the two points where they are secured, so that the short legs 22, 22 may be substantially parallel. Means is provided for preventing movement of the rods 23, 23' through the support l5 and for accurately positioning them. I have found as a most convenient device for this purpose merely to strike out from the rods small nibs 28 at points adjacent beam l5.

Obviously, the hangers 30, 3B of the swing are looped over the short legs 22, 22 of the supporting frame 20. It will be seen that a support constructed, as herein described, is strong and rigid and will withstand the heavy strains imposed upon it by the rough treatment normally given to playground equipment of this character. At the same time, it will be seen that my improved support may be made with a minimum of labor and tool expense from inexpensive standard materials. My improved support will even withstand unbalanced loading, as where a child would stand or sit on one side of the swing.

Fig. 4 shows a variation from the embodiment described above. In this case supporting frame 20 is substantially similar to that described above except that the long legs 23" instead of being straight as in the other embodiment are bent to provide an offset portion 33 intermediate the ends. Hence, the entire frame in this instance lies substantially horizontally, and the holes bored in the horizontal support l5 for passage of the long legs of the frame 20' may be horizontal and parallel to each other.

The bar l5 may, of course, be solid instead of hollow, and the detachable securing means 25 may be bolts and nuts or the like. All in all, my device is especially suitable for knockdown shipment and quick assembly with common hand tools.

Various other changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a swing, a body supporting device having a pair of spaced suspenders, and means for swingably supporting said device comprising a horizontal bar, and a substantially rectangular frame carried by said bar, two opposite sides of said frame serving as bearings for said suspenders, said bar being perforated and the; two sides-'ofsaid frame not. serving as. bearings extending through said perforations.

2. A swing as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame is formed of a pair of L-shaped members secured together;

3. Means for supporting a body suspensionde-- vice comprising a trestle havin a horizontal bar, said bar having a pair of spaced perforations extending therethrough in generally, horizontal po sltions, and bearing means for the suspension device comprising a substantially rectangular frame extending through said perforations.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said frame is formed of a pair of substantially similar L-shaped barssecured together.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the perforations in the horizontal bar are aligned at slightly different angles to the horizontal and both diverge from a generally horizontal plane through the horizontal bar, the frame bars each having a leg lying in the same horizontal plane, forming opposite sides of the frame, the other legs extending through said perforations, said, hori- 4 zontal legs forming the bearing surfaces for the suspension device.

6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein each bar has a positioning protuberance thereon.

7. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the bars are secured together by means of a detachable locking member. 8. A combination as defined in; claim 3, wherein said horizontal bar is a tubular member and said frame is formed of rod material.

9. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said horizontal bar is a tubular member and said frame is formed of rod material.

' 10.. A combination as defined in claim 9, whereinmeans is provided for preventing movement of each'of the-L-shaped rods relative to the horizontal bar when the parts are in assembled relation while permitting disassembly of the parts, anddetachable means is provided for securing the L-shaped rods to each other.

EARL D. BOISSELIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 4,166 Ross. Aug. 26, 1845 526,151 Hobbs Sept. 18, 1894 1,552,960 Sanders Sept. 8, 1925 2,094,486 Cohen Sept. 28, 1937 

